Dawn + Vinegar = Soap Scum KILLA

So, you might remember this post from a while back. And if you do, you'll remember that I cannot stand soap scum. Like, it actually bothers me. I hate that we have this gorgeous bathroom, and all I can see is the soap scum that threatens to take over. And God help me if Lover and I are in the shower together (hey, we're in a water shortage) and I accidentally touch the walls. Ugh, gives me the heebie jeebies just thinking about it.

I've tried it all. Kaboom. 409. Every bottle that promises to get rid of the soap scum. And I'm left disappointed every. single. time. 

So when I saw this post on pinterest, I was a bit skeptical. Magic in a bottle? Yeah, okay. But I figure, what did I have to lose? So the next time I went to Walmart, I figure I could drop $3 on a bottle of Dawn and a spray bottle. We already had a huge bottle of white vinegar, thanks to Lover cleaning his stinky Vibrams (those weird 5 toe shoe things that make him look like he has swamp creature feet).

My oldest daughter asked me if I bought the Dawn just because it had a penguin on it (I collect penguins). 

So it's pretty simple. Heat up some vinegar (I used a cup of vinegar and nuked it for 2 minutes). Then pour it in your spray bottle, add an equal amount of blue Dawn (the website comments were pretty specific about getting the blue kind), shake gently, and voila! 

Again, that's a one to one ratio of white vinegar to blue Dawn. I measured out a cup of each originally, but only used about half of my bottle. So next time I'll just do a half cup of each. The whole point is that the white vinegar is heated up, and while I haven't used it with it being room temperature and don't know if it'd work just as well, I'd rather just make it fresh each time. Especially if it's going to give me super clean results.



Here is what we're dealing with. Gross, right? You can't tell me you'd want to touch that in the shower either. EWWWWW. 

Do you know how hard it is to take a pic of soap scum? I finally figured out that I had to place the camera on the door and face it down with the flash on. 

Isn't that gross? I know I already said that, but man. Ewww. 

So the website said that you can spray it on and leave it overnight for tough stains. But have you ever tried to spray on a cleaner on a vertical surface? What's the first thing that happens? It all slides down. BUT, with the vinegar Dawn spray, it's a bit thicker, almost like a watery gel, and it stayed on the glass where I sprayed it. Yeah, a few places dripped, but it was staying. Holy crap. 

I let it sit for 2 hours, came back in with a sponge and some warm water, and wiped it off. And holy crap. 

Yes, that is an unedited (except for the watermark, obviously) photo of the same area. And that isn't soap scum at the bottom, it's the reflection of the shower floor (you can see the drain). Isn't that crazy? Lover came in to see it when he got home from work, and he said "Holy shit, it looks freaking new!". It totally shocked me when I walked in the bathroom this morning when Lover was taking a shower. Usually it looks like he's standing behind a frosted glass door where all you can see is his head. But this morning, it was completely clear. Like brand spanking new.

So if your nemesis is soap scum, give it a shot. It'll cost ya under $5 even if you have to buy everything, which is cheaper than the other cleaners that aren't working. 

No, I'm not getting paid to post this. I wish I was! But ya know, Dawn making people, feel free to send a big ole check my way.   http://lifecraftsandwhatever.blogspot.com/2012/01/dawn-vinegar-soap-scum-killa.html

Spring is here!

Doesn't it feel good? It's warming up here in Southern California (well, it's always warm...but you know.) We hit the beach for the first time this year on St. Patrick's Day. Charlies' first time there and it was good. We stayed & watched the sun set. Anyway, the beginning of Spring always reminds me of when I used to work at Williams Sonoma  (about 10+ years ago) they used to simmer this amazing concoction on the stove and it made the whole store smell amazing. I feel like I've blogged about this before. Maybe I have or maybe I just thought about blogging about it but didn't. Regardless, I make this concoction every Spring and it makes the house smell like heaven.. You need a small stockpot filled about 2/3 full with water. 1 lemon, sliced, and a few sprigs of rosemary (on a cold dark night, armed with scissors, I did a little snippy snip of rosemary from the apartment bldg next door. Don't tell a soul!) Then add 1-2 tsp of vanilla:(can I get a HUZZAH for taking the picture while pouring the vanilla???)

I let it simmer all day long, adding water as needed. You can use the same mix for about 2 days; after that it gets a bit stanky if you know what I mean.) It's this wonderful scent of citrus with the warm vanilla and the rosemary...ack...the rosemary just ties it all in. Your home will smell mahvelous!  http://morganmoore.typepad.com/one_more_moore/2010/03/spring-is-here.html#comment-6a00d8341c51ba53ef0120a9772f44970b

How to Clean Baseboards

gemteck1, flickr

It doesn't matter how much you scrub your floors; if the baseboards are grungy, the room will never look clean. Here's how to tidy up these dirt magnets without breaking your back.

I confess: I veryrarely clean the baseboards in my home. The job is just too big and I can't imagine when I'd carve out a whole afternoon to get down on my hands and knees to scrub these seemingly endless strips of wood, which seem to attract dirt and dust like a magnet.

But it's those finishing touches that give a room that polished look. The truth is, baseboard cleaning doesn't have to be so daunting. Frequent touch-ups and preventive maintenance are key to avoiding a big job down the road.Here are a few tips for taking the toil out of cleaning your baseboards.

- Do them last
Wait until the rest of your floor cleaning (sweeping, mopping) is done, then tackle the baseboards. They're likely to get even dirtier as you kick up debris from the floors, and doing the baseboards last will save you from having to do them twice.

- Vacuum them
Vacuum the baseboards using your brush attachment. The baseboards should be totally free of hair, dust and any loose dirt before you wash them. Pay particular attention to the floor around the baseboards, which is where most of the floor's dirt tends to accumulate.

- Spray them
Working room by room, spray the baseboards with an all-purpose cleaner.I use this homemade cleaner, and it works wonders. Be careful not to soak your baseboards or get too much water on the wall behind them, as this could cause damage to your drywall.Let the solution sit for about 10 minutes.

- Rinse
Using a damp sponge mop with clean water, wash the baseboards. The mop is convenient from a logistical standpoint, especially if you have a bad back; you don't have to get down and dirty, so to speak. But really tough marks may still require you to get on the floor and scrub. If the stains are stubborn, just scrub harder, but refrain from using anything abrasive, like a scouring pad, on your baseboards.

- Protect them
Once your baseboards are clean and dry, take a new dryer sheet and wipe it over the wood. The anti-static cling property of the dryer sheet will cut the amount of dust that sticks to baseboards. In fact, each time you sweep and vacuum, go over the baseboards quickly with a dryer sheet. If you have shedding pets, you'll want to do this regularly. This preventative maintenance will go a long way.   http://www.diylife.com/2010/06/08/home-ec-how-to-clean-baseboards/

I Tried It – Homemade Laundry Detergent

I’ve heard a lot of frugal-living blogs mention homemade laundry detergent. I’ve heard them say they make it and I’ve heard them say that it’s an unnecessary hassle. I knew I wanted to eventually get around to trying it out for myself but it was pretty far in the back of my mind. Then one day I stumbled across a how-to for a powdered laundry detergent at Debt Free Adventure that was too good not to try immediately.
The recipe Matt gives is only 3 ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
• 1/2 cup 10 Mule Team Borax
• 1 bar Ivory soap

To see how to make it for yourself go check out his original post.
I purchased all of the ingredients, made the detergent and then did the cost-breakdown. I was insanely curious. I doubled the batch, which ended up yielding enough for 56 loads of laundry. In bullet points, here is my outcome.

• It was very easy to make, like 5 minutes.
• It was very cheap to make – $1.45 for 56 loads (WOW)
• It is very easy to use – 1 tablespoon per load.
• And … IT WORKS!

My daughter must have known I wanted to give it the real test because she BADLY stained a pair of her jeans playing outside. Both knees and the butt of the jeans were smeared with a very dark grass stain. I wish I took ‘before’ pictures so you could see how terrible they were. The last pair of jeans she did this to are now play jeans. I got most of the stain out but there is still a very faint amount of green on the knees – that was with my old detergent. I did the same as usual, pre-treated the stained areas and then washed them with the regular clothes but used my new detergent. They are completely clean in one try (I will try to treat and wash a stain out up to three time to save a piece of clothing). I couldn’t believe it.
If you are at all interested in this you really should give it a try. You won’t be sorry
~Updates~

• Instead of regular Ivory soap I started using Ivory with Aloe. It cleans exactly the same but smells really nice.
• I find it VERY helpful to grate the soap with my food processor. Then, leaving the grated soap in there, I remove the grating blade and put the chopping blade in, then add the other ingredients and turn it on. It mixes it and makes it very fine, so that I have no problem at all with the soap dissolving in cold water.

This post is linked in with Tightwad Tuesday at Being Frugal. Head over there to check out some great frugal ideas!    http://www.domesticcents.com/saving-money/homemade-laundry-detergent/

Washing A Shower Curtain Liner

Did you know that you can wash your shower curtain liner in the washing machine? You probably did but I didn’t. We have two showers and whenever one of the liners started getting a little icky, I’d just buy a new one. You can get a really chintzy one for just a few dollars – but you know – you get what you pay for on that one.

Anyway, back to the point. Someone told me that you can wash the liner in the washing machine (is this seriously common knowledge?) and I couldn’t believe it, so I tried it.

I set the cycle to medium and cold/cold. I used regular laundry detergent and a little bleach. Then I just hung it to dry. I read somewhere that you can throw a couple white towels in with the liner for extra scrubbing power. That seems like a good idea too. It worked pretty good. It came almost completely clean. I thought, “Wow. I am definitely blogging this.”
This probably won’t save me a ton of money (would you classify a ton of money as 2,000 British pounds? ) but I also like the idea of wasting less. A shower liner takes up a lot of space in the trash!
OK, I can take it. Tell me, did everyone in the world already know this but me?    http://www.domesticcents.com/saving-money/washing-a-shower-curtain-liner/

Laundry Detergent

I've posted my recipe for Cloth Diaper Detergent, but never considered to post the version for laundry detergent. Silly me :)

They are basically the same, except that the regular detergent has soap in it :)


What soaps can you use?

From my understanding, most any bar soap will do. I think most people try to choose something that's easy on the skin.

Fels Naptha (Love this stuff)
Ivory (I think you can even find flakes of this, which would be handy)
Zote
Kirk's Castile
etc.

So what's the recipe?

Basically it's this:
1 cup washing soda
1 cup borax
1/2 cup of oxiclean
1 bar of soap, finely grated

There are tricks to grating it. The best one I've heard is to chop it up (food processor can help here), lay it out on some cookie sheets to dry for a day or so, and then chop it up again (again, food processor, big help!) Be careful not to push your processor too hard (don't rush it!).

Now, I said that the above recipe is basically the recipe. I don't like leftovers and I don't like having to do things over and over again, so I like to make large batches. It's a little more work at the time, but a lot less work over time :D

Here's the full recipe:
3 Boxes Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (55 oz each)
2 Boxes 20 Mule Team Borax (76 oz each)
1 Large Tub OxiClean (96 oz)
24 Bars of Soap, finely grated

Depending on what soap you get and how you buy it (bulk, discount store, etc.) you can make a full batch of this for around $60 and it will last a VERY long time.

I've found that getting large buckets to mix this up makes it SUPER easy! Layer all of your ingredients into one (or more) buckets. Pour from one bucket to the next, and repeat until it's mixed to your satisfaction. That's it!

This recipe has a higher yield than the CD detergent, so yo may need more than 2 buckets to mix back and forth.

How do I use it?

I liked to use 2 tablespoons per load of laundry. My husband has a fairly dirty job and I have messy kids *cough*daughter*cough*

If I'm doing a cold wash, I have a jar that I keep close by that I can put my scoops into, add some hot water and help dissolve it a little before throwing it in the wash. It will work without doing that, but I like to.

**I'd like to make a note about the borax used in this recipe. A recent article by EWG cautions the use of borax for cleaning in the home noting that toddlers and young children face special risks from hand-to-mouth transfer of carpet or crack and crevice, dust or spray borax treatments. I would recommend not using borax as a general home cleaner - any cleaner (aside from pure water) used for these purposes will leave a residue. I feel comfortable using the minuscule amount in the detergent. It is not used on open surfaces and is washed out during the rinse cycle.


You can read a bit more on this debate here - there are some great points of view in the comments  http://www.theecofriendlyfamily.com/2009/08/laundry-detergent.html

Get Stains OUT! of Your Diapers!

 

So, you use cloth, Congrats!

Aaaaand you hate stains. You're in luck!

There is a crazy simple solution :)

The sun!

Wash and dry your diapers as usual. (Need help with that? Try these tips!)

Line dry your diapers. This works in cold weather (I wouldn't do it in freezing weather) and even cloudy days. Sunny days will work best, and warm days will help dry your diapers best of course, but the sun will bleach out the stains! It is truly amazing.

When you're all done (or the day is), bring them indoors. If they aren't dry, toss them in the dryer or let them air dry (I would ONLY do this if they were like the most itty bitty bit of damp.)

Enjoy your stain free diapers!

This is March in Ohio!

Don't have a clothesline? I use a retractable version mounted to our deck and it hooks onto our garage.

No place for even a retractable? No problem!

You can still sun through a window. I've done this before through a side window and it did work, not as fast, but it did work. I would imagine a larger window with more direct sunlight would work great. Try putting your diapers on a rack like this in front of the window.
 This method of "sunning" also works great on clothing stains from foods and other miscellaneous things.

See here about cleaning up stained kids clothes (and anything else for that matter).  http://www.theecofriendlyfamily.com/2009/11/get-stains-out-of-your-diapers.html

Cloth Diaper Detergent

I have been using this since October 2008 with no issues. I've actually received compliments on used diapers that I have sold smelling so good and asking what I used :)

If you're looking for the clothing version of this, look here.

Here's what I do. It's cheap and I love it :)

More or less, It's: (this is not exact, since I use the larger recipe below)
1 cup washing soda
1 cup borax
1/2 cup of oxiclean

BUT.... I don't like having misc. leftovers, so I make up a batch... like this :)
It should cost $30, max.

3 Boxes Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (55 oz each)
2 Boxes 20 Mule Team Borax (76 oz each)
1 Large Tub OxiClean (96 oz)

Yes, it's a lot, but it's super cheap to make, so no biggie :) It just lasts forever. Or you can share :)

**I'd like to make a note about the borax used in this recipe. A recent article by EWG cautions the use of borax for cleaning in the home noting that toddlers and young children face special risks from hand-to-mouth transfer of carpet or crack and crevice, dust or spray borax treatments. I would recommend not using borax as a general home cleaner - any cleaner (aside from pure water) used for these purposes will leave a residue. I feel comfortable using the minuscule amount in the detergent. It is not used on open surfaces and is washed out during the rinse cycle.

You can read a bit more on this debate here - there are some great points of view in the comments.

**I see a lot of people asking where to purchase these supplies. If you are unable to find them locally (I've had great luck at our grocery store and others at hardware stores.) you can purchase everything to make this on Alice.com at reasonable prices and that includes free shipping. They currently do not carry the 96 oz Oxiclean, so you would want to purchase two of the 56 oz that they offer.

This is my current wash routine:
I love this routine. My diapers have no smell and are so fresh. I have also been using an open pail (pail w/ no lid) and that seems to make such a huge difference when it comes to ammonia lingering.


Warm wash with cold rinse w/ 1 tablespoon of detergent
Hot (or warm) wash with cold rinse w/ 1 tablespoon of detergent

I have also done this in the past with good results:
Cold wash/rinse w/ 1 tablespoon of detergent
Hot wash/rinse w/ 1 tablespoon of detergent

If you are dealing with ammonia you can also add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of vinegar to your hot wash  http://www.theecofriendlyfamily.com/2009/08/cloth-diaper-detergent.html 

Cleaning Up Stained Kids' Clothes

Each time I grab clothes for our youngest from storage I am faced with stains. I put clothes away washed and clean, but they come out with these awful, yellowed stains. They are protein stains that develop from proteins left in the fibers from drool and other things. I use to think that there was no saving them. I tried washing every which way and nothing worked. So when our youngest was due and I was faced with a tub of stained newborn clothes, I put my cloth diaper knowledge to work. I used the sun!

It worked beautifully! All of our baby clothes were saved and it was easy. I have since used this on just about any, and all, natural stains with great success. Here's what I do:

I have a wash tub in my laundry area, so I fill it about half full of hot water and added 2 or 3 massive scoops of Oxiclean. I mean the big green scoop that it comes with. I put on my rubber gloves and dissolve the Oxiclean in the water. I then add every piece of stained clothing, being sure to get each saturated. My objective is not to have it be a big pool of water, but just enough to get everything sopping and just a little left over (I want that Oxiclean super concentrated!).

You could do this in your tub or even in the washing machine - which would be ideal.

I let it all soak overnight. If I did this in the wash tub, I would transfer the laundry to the washing machine with the help of a bucket. I fill the machine as usual - using warm water and then add a normal amount of detergent. Do a normal wash cycle, but do not dry in the dryer!

Then, here comes the rest of the magic. I hung them all out to dry in the sunshine.

Voila! Every stain was gone. They all looked like new! I couldn't believe it. Some of the stains were awful too. I had a couple of outfits that were headed for the trash, but I thought I'd toss them in and give them a chance. They look like new too. Wow, just wow.

Thank you oxygen action and sunshine, you have saved me, yet again :)

This is great for getting clothes ready for donating or yard sales, for salvaging stained family favorites and more.  http://www.theecofriendlyfamily.com/2009/08/cleaning-up-stained-kids-clothes.html

Clutter Crises You Can Avoid

Where To Start

A place for everything and every in its place, or so goes the old saying. The problem is that you probably have too many things and not enough closets or cabinets to put them in.
The solution? Furniture with built-in storage to help keep things tidy in every room in the house. These tips will get you started.

Space for Me

Clutter Crisis #1: All I want is a little place just for me!

Forget about a room of one’s own -- most women would settle for a piece of furniture where they can sit, put on makeup, or write a note with personal items close at hand. Use small trays and boxes to organize space inside. Add more storage with a rolling file cabinet that’s small enough to slide underneath.
Store more: Look for an armoire with a built-in desk that slides out or pulls down for extra storage. To maximize stowing capacity, couple the vanity with a storage ottoman. 

Living Room

Clutter Crisis #2: My living room is a dumping ground.

Books, toys, remote controls -- the biggest mess is almost certainly found in whichever room gets the most traffic. To control the chaos, select tables, consoles, and cabinets with plenty of shelves and drawers.
Store more: Furniture meant for other rooms of the house can often blend seamlessly into a living room. Try a chest of drawers, for instance, and let each family member lay claim to a drawer. 

Kitchen

Clutter Crisis #3: There’s no more room in the kitchen.

Pots, pans, dishes, bowls, utensils, plus the many small appliances that seem to multiply -- it’s no wonder that storage in the kitchen is at a premium. Survey the premises and find a way to use every square inch.
Store more: Try installing a peg board on the back of a kitchen door. And if your kitchen is short on built-in cabinets, an armoire might solve your storage problems. 

Bedroom

Clutter Crisis #4: Piles of clothing have made our bedroom chaotic instead of comforting.

The bedroom offers many opportunities for storage, which is lucky, since there are so many things we need to house there. Find room for clothes, and then make sure you have space for jewelry and mementos, plus whatever you like to have on hand next to the bed.
Store more: A headboard with built-in shelves is convenient, particularly if you don’t have room for a pair of nightstands. And remember, nightstands with drawers or cabinet space take up the same area as those that simply have legs.

Entryway

Clutter Crisis #5: I can barely get in (or out) the door.

The trick is to find a neat and organized way to keep necessities (backpacks, purses) in the entryway to speed up the morning exodus.
Store more: Provide an easily accessible place for outerwear. A row of pegs is one remedy, or try an old-fashioned coat stand. 

Cost-Free Cleaning Tools and Tricks

The Value of Vinegar

Use this pantry product to wash windows, sanitize cutting boards, and clean toilets.
-Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and vinegar, and a splash of lemon juice to create a quick window washing solution.
-Use a few splashes of full-strength vinegar to sanitize wooden cutting boards.
-One cup of white vinegar with a few sprinkles of baking soda makes for an eco-friendly and totally cheap toilet bowl cleaner.

Baking Soda Basics

There are a myriad of uses for this magical product—from keeping the foods in your fridge fresh, to helping chocolate chip cookies rise.
-Use baking soda as a gentle scouring agent to scrub sinks, bathtubs, and tile.
-Just as it absorbs odors from food in the refrigerator, baking soda deodorizes garbage cans, litter boxes, and diaper pails.

Salt Sense

Use simple table salt—super cheap and widely available—to clean all sorts of surfaces in your home.
-Create a paste using salt and lemon juice to remove rust spots from clothing.
-Sprinkle salt onto half of a lemon (with the juice already squeezed out), to shine up tarnished brass and pewter. Rinse thoroughly, otherwise your precious metals could turn green. 

For the Love of Lemons

This sweet citrus fruit adds subtle flavor to meals, is a great cleaning agent, and leaves a fresh scent in its path.
-Rub half of a lemon over a wooden cutting board to remove odors.
-Toss lemon peels and a few ice cubes down the garbage disposal to deodorize and sharpen its blades.  

Trusted and Traditional

Traditional Corn Broom
Use this sturdy-bristled broom when sweeping up your porch or deck.

Tough and Tender

Push Broom
The oversized head with stiff inner fibers and soft outer fibers makes easy work of sweeping leaves, pine needles, and dirt off of sidewalks, driveways, or patio floors. 

Inside Angles

Angled Broom
An angled broom with soft, synthetic bristles picks up more than traditional corn brooms, and its angled design gets into tight corners inside the house.

Degrease the Disposal

Greasy garbage disposal? “Turn on the hot water and then the disposal,” says Mary Thompson, president of the Mr. Rooter plumbing company. Squeeze a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid into the disposal and run it for 15 to 30 seconds with the hot water still flowing. Turn off the disposal, and leave the hot water on until all of the soap suds are gone.

Save Your Sponges

-Clean and disinfect sponges in the dishwasher by placing them in the utensil compartment.
-Launder sponges in hot water with the rest of your clothes, and then toss them in the dryer.
-Place DAMP sponges in the microwave on high for one minute. A dry sponge will catch on fire.
-Soak sponges in a solution of a cup of chlorine bleach and a gallon of water. Then rinse.
-When sponges start to fall apart or they develop a strong odor, it’s time to throw them out.  http://www.myhomeideas.com/healthy-home/organizing-cleaning/cost-free-cleaning-tools-tricks-00415000067585/save-your-sponges-00415000067584/